cooper



I (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. B. COOPER. COOP.

No. 472,615. Patented Apr. 12, 1-892,

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. COOPER, OF WVINDER, VIRGINIA.

COOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 472,615, dated April 12, 1892. Application filed November 18, 1891; Serial No. 412,310. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LJOHN B. COOPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winder, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coops, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved knockdown-coop for poultry, dogs, and other animals, particularly when they are on exhibition.

According to my present invention I preferably make the coop in six principal parts, which may be readily secured together to form the coop without employing nails, screws, or other fastenings requiring the use of tools, and which may be readily knocked down, taken apart, and compacted in a small space and secured together for transportation.

In order that my invention may be more particularly understood, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved coop set up and ready for use. Fig. 2 is a diagram View, partly broken away, of the several parts separated, but occupying approximately their relative positions ready to be secured together. Fig. 3 is an end view of the parts compactedand secured together for transportation. Fig. iis'another end View of same, and Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 4-

The bottom A is rectangular, preferably square. Along its front and rear edges it is provided with grooves a, and each of its four corners within the grooves is formed with a socket a to receive dowel-pins formed on the front and back pieces, as will be hereinafter described.

The front piece B consists of a rectangular frame, the uprights B being formed with vertical grooves b, and the top piece B is formed with sockets b to receive dowel-pins on the top piece 0. Dowel-pins b on the bottom piece B of the front are adapted to enter the sockets a, and the piece B is adapted to enter the groove (1 at the front of the bottom piece. The front piece is provided with poultry-netting B (but other kinds of wire-work may be used,) secured at the edges in any suitable way. The back piece D is formed in somewhat the same manner as the front piece. Instead of using poultry-netting, how ever, the frame may be covered with canvas, wood, tin, or other material. It is provided 5 5 with vertical grooves d, dowel-pins cl, and sockets d similar to those in the front piece B. The end pieces E are formed of frames E,preferably of wood, tenoned together at the corners in any suitable Way and inclos- 6o ing canvas, wood, tin or other material e. These frames are of sufficient size and thickness to fit between the front and back pieces when they are in vertical position. They enter the grooves 19 and cl in the front and back and make a close fit. The top piece 0 consists of a rectangular wooden frame 0, covered by canvas or other suitable material 0. The frame may be constructed in any suitable way; but it is provided with dowelpins 0 at front and rear adapted to enter the sockets b and d on the front and back pieces.

In order to secure the bottom piece B to the other parts of the coop, I employ hooks F,secured to the bottom pieces and adapted to engage with eyes F, secured to the front and back pieces. When the hooks engage with the eyes, it will be obvious that the front and back pieces cannot be separated from the bot tom piece and are held in a vertical position and kept from sliding by means of the dowelpins which enter the sockets a and the dowels con the top piece entering the sockets on the top of the front and back pieces.

The sides E are held in place in the grooves b and d and can only be removed by being slid vertically, and this can only be done by removing the bottom or the top piece. It is obvious, therefore, that the coop when set up is strong and durable, and it is light, as the 0 edges of the several pieces preferably consist of frames of wood, and the main body may be composed of canvas, sheet metal, or other like material.

For transportation the six parts of the coop 5 may be separated,for instance, in the following manner: The top may be first removed, then the end pieces E drawn out vertically, then the hooks F disengaged from the eyes F, and the front and back pieces removed :00 from the bottom piece. The several pieces may then be arranged in compact form for transportation, as indicated in Fig. 3. They are preferably arranged in the following manner: The bottom A is arranged at one end and the top C at the other. Next to the top piece G are arranged the end pieces These are of the same size and, as will be observed, they fit snugly between the dowel-pins c, and are thus prevented from moving laterally. This arrai'igement of the dowel-pins with reference to the size of the end pieces is especially designed for this purpose. It should be observed that the dowel-pins c are of a length sufficient to extend beyond the edge of one end piece and overlap that of the other. Next to the end piece is arranged the back piece D. Between the back piece and the bottom piece is arranged the front piece 13, and the arrangement is such that the eyes I in the front piece enter the grooves a in the bottom piece and the eyes F in the back piece enter the grooves 12 in the front piece, so that the frames may lie close together. When thus arranged, the hooks are made to engage with screw-heads cc, secured to the edges of the top piece 0. The parts will then be all securely fastened together in a compact form.

I claim as my invention- 1. A knockdown coop consisting of the combination of the bottom piece grooved at front and rear on its upper side, the front and back pieces fitting in said grooves and havin gdowelpins entering sockets in the bottom piece, the top piece having dowel-pins entering sockets in the front and back pieces, and side pieces arranged in grooves in the front and back pieces.

2. A knockdown coop consisting of the combination of the bottom piece having grooves at front and rear on its upper side, the front and back pieces arranged in said grooves and having dowelpins entering corresponding sockets in the bottom piece, the top pieeehaving dowe1-pins entering sockets in the front and back pieces, the side pieces arranged in Vertical grooves in the front and back pieces, and fastening devices for securing the front and back pieces to the bottom piece.

Aknockdown coop madein sixrectangular parts adapted when set up to form a cubical coop, said parts comprising a bottom piece provided with grooves at front and rear on its upper side, front and back pieces fitting in said grooves and provided with dowel-pins entering sockets in the bottom piece, a top piece provided with dowel-pins entering sockets in the front and back pieces, and side pieces arranged in vertical groovesin the front and back pieces, hooks on the bottom piece engaging with eyes in the front and back pieces, and screwsrr on the top piece, with which the hooks engage when the coop is knocked down and ready for shipping.

4. A knockdowh coop madein six rectangular flat parts secured by socket and dowel-pin connections and grooves, the bottom, front, and back pieces being grooved on their inner sides and the top piece having dowel-pins entering sockets in the front and back pieces, screw-eyes on the front and back pieces, hooks on the bottom piece engaging therewith when the coop is set up, the size of the side pieces being such as to lit between the dowel-pins of the top piece when the coop is knocked down, and the screw-eyes being arranged at such a distance apart as to fit within the grooves of the bottom and front pieces.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOHN J COOPER.

\Vitnesses:

Units. S. DAROTEN, II. S. Coornn. 

